The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-10-06
COUNTRIFIED.

CUUNlRlE LED.
'I do hope you'll like her, Burton,
said Dora, leaning toward her hand
some young brother-in-1aw, with hel
pretty eyes bright with eagerness
''and l don't know how you can helI
it. Everybody does. And I dom
know you've always thought me rath
mo, no; her brother-in-law inter
posed.
''Oh, yes, you have; and know
am. But Lucy's ever SO much nicel
than 1 am: She's prettier, in the first
Impossible" said Burton, gallant
ly.
'.And them" said pretty Mrs. Salk
ED, earnestly, ''she's awfully bright
She's been away at boarding-schooI fol
four years. She hasn't stayed as long
as l did, you know, till Alfred came
and took me away. And she's always
so stylish, and-well, wait till you see
her. know you'll like her, Burton.
''I'm certain of it, Dora, Burton de-
clared, reassuringly.
Mrs. Salkeld rose lingeringly, in re-
Spouse to small cry from the nursery
''Sarah never can find the pins in
that little blessing when he cries, and
/ know they're there. She's coming
tomorrow, you know, Burton. You'll
come round to see her, won't youP
Ever SO many have promised to call.
'I'll come Immediately after break,
fast" Burton rejoined.
His sisfer-in-law laughed as she went
through the door, but she looked back
at him with amusing seriousness.
It would not have been hard for q
keen observer to guess that she was
not without timid ambition concern
ing her brother-in-law and her sister
Lucy-timid, because Burton was, in
the estimation of his brothers wife, as
nearly perfect being, morally, men.
tally, and physically, as had ever
existed-the one person who enjoyed
an equal distinction being her hus
band.
If it had been any girl but Lucy, she
was sure that such a thing would have
never entered her head. But Lucyl She
smiled with sisterly fondness as she
rummaged among the baby's fannels
for the offending pin.
Dora's brother-in-law called al
eleven o'clock the next morning. He
was a good-natured and conscientious
young gentleman, and he would have
disappointed Dora on no account.
But his mood, as he rang the bell,
and pulled of a glove, was not an es-
pecially eager one. He was too polite
to formulate his feelings, even to him.
self; but had he done so, the fact
would have been clear that he didn't
expect much from DOra's sister.
A pretty girl she might be; Dora
was pretty. But a girl fresh from
college, though she had had four years
at country boarding-school! The
young man raised his brows, with Q
slight smile.
Nothing, however, should prevent
his doing his utmost for Dora's sister.
His good breeding did not even allow
his dubious smile to remain. He
looked seriously expectant when the
door opened.
'.Mrs. Salkeld is just gone out. Her
little boy is worse. and
she went down to see him." explained
the servant.
miss Trumbull is IMP" Burton
queried.
Eyes. sir; Miss Trumbull came this
Burton gave the girl his card, put
his hat and overcoat on the hall-stand,
and took seat in the parlor. 1t was
some twenty minutes before Dora S
sister came down.
Burton was deep in the latest mag
azine when the door at last admitted
her. She came in with a sweeping
rustic of draperies, a beaming smile
and a warm greeting.
"Mr. Salkeld, amt it? Burton, I
came pretty near saying. Dora she
always calls you Burton, and it was
jest on the end o'my tongue. Well,
I'm real glad to see you. Dora she's
told me all about you, but, hearing
about folks amt like seeing EN-"
She shook hands warmly, rolled an
ottoman in front of the largest chair
with strong push, sat down with her
feet on the stool, and smiled yet more
broadly.
"Well, I'm awful glad to get here.
I've been coming for don't how long,
but hain't seemed to get around to it;
and so last week / says to pa, If I'm
going up to Dora's, I'm Jest going to
go And pa says all right, to fix up
and go, then; and ma and Jest went
right round and put things together
which needed, and pa took me down
to the train Monday morning, and
here be. l ANTI n bit used up
neither; ma. she said / ICOUld be.
She laughed quite heartily, tapping
the arm of her chair and lingering the
bow of ribbon on top of her head.
Burton murmured something in re-
sponse-he did not know what. He
sat stiffened in the attitude of polite
Difference which he bad assumed, quite
motionlesS.
He felt no desire to smile; he was
too much shocked and appalled, for
that. Good Heavens! this was fan
worse than anything he had imagined.
His head fairly buzzed; ne sat staring
at Dora's sister in utter darkness.
pretty big place you've got here.
hain't you?" Miss Trumbull pro-
ceeded, her eordiality unaffected BY
his silence. Considerable biggerI
the college, suppose. ] hain't never
been in cities much, and get kind
o. turned round in 'em. don't know
as / should like it living here. It's Sc
kind o. lonesome, meeting SO many
people you amt acquainted with
Why, where I've been there amt any
body in town you don't know; and il
you do see a stranger, 1t amt very
hard to find out who it's"
Burton gasped- Was it possible
that Dora could have believed what
she had said about her sister? Yes
he reflected that Dora mad not seer
her before for some time. and bel
fondness for her, and her gOod-tem
pered admiration Of everybody, had
done the rest
Countyifedz Burton gazed at her
Her clothes did not fit; she had {
string of beads on, and a blue bow
and breast-pfn at her neck, and req
ribbons in her hair. Pretty? Yes
she was incidentally pretty; that h'
admitted freely. But stylish, and no
provincial? What could Dora have
been thinking OFF
The young man passed his hanS
across his forehead weakly
81 s'spose I'd have ben here ions
aRo,S Dora's sister went on, gsreneiy